USA Today's call for Oklahoma Sooners to return to the Big 12 ignores reality, this nostalgic proposal is a financial and competitive folly
In a recent column for USA TODAY, Blake Toppmeyer floated what can only be described as a nostalgic fever dream for college football realignment. He suggested that Oklahoma should abandon the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and slink back to the Big 12, dragging Missouri along for the ride.
Toppmeyer wrote, "Texas created havoc for the Big 12 for many years, and the Longhorns suit the SEC anyway. So leave them be. Same with Texas A&M. Those schools should be paired together, and they fit the SEC’s tapestry. This would leave the SEC with 14 members. That's plenty."
He then doubled down on the sentimentality, adding, "But, to (former Nebraska AD Bill Moos’) point, the old Big Eight schools belong together in a conference oriented around the heartland. So I’m moving Nebraska, Missouri and Oklahoma back into the Big 12. That’ll restore annual rivalries like Oklahoma-Nebraska, Colorado-Nebraska, Kansas-Missouri, and of course, Bedlam."
On the surface, this might sound like a charming throwback to the good old days of regional rivalries and heartland pride. But let's be real: it's a ridiculous, shortsighted idea that ignores the financial realities, competitive landscape, and future trajectory of college football.
Oklahoma's move to the SEC in 2024 wasn't some impulsive decision; it was a calculated leap into the epicenter of the sport's power structure. Suggesting a U-turn now is like advising a tech startup to ditch Silicon Valley for a small-town incubator because the coffee was better there. It's not just impractical—it's downright detrimental to the Sooners' program. Let's break down why this proposal deserves to be laughed out of the room.
First and foremost, financially, this makes zero sense. Oklahoma's future is firmly entrenched in the SEC, where the conference's massive media deals and revenue sharing dwarf anything the Big 12 can offer. The SEC's latest TV contract with ESPN is worth billions, ensuring each member school rakes in upwards of $50-60 million annually in distributions. Compare that to the Big 12's patchwork deals, which, even after expansion, lag behind.
Oklahoma isn't struggling; they're thriving in this new environment. Any reversal would mean forfeiting that financial windfall for what? A return to a conference that's been scrambling to stay relevant since the departures of Texas and OU themselves? College sports are evolving rapidly with NIL deals, transfer portals, and potential revenue-sharing models from the House settlement. OU has positioned itself in the conference that's best equipped to navigate these changes.
Toppmeyer's idea would yank them back into uncertainty, all for the sake of "heartland" vibes.
No thanks.
Then there's the rivalry angle, which Toppmeyer romanticizes but conveniently overlooks the bigger picture. He pines for restoring games like Oklahoma-Nebraska and Bedlam (Oklahoma vs. Oklahoma State). Sure, those matchups have history, but let's not pretend they're more sacred than the Red River Shootout against Texas. That annual clash at the Cotton Bowl is one of college football's crown jewels—a border war that's been played uninterrupted for over a century.
Leaving the SEC would almost certainly end it, as Texas has no incentive to schedule a non-conference game against a Big 12 foe when they're locked into SEC battles. Bedlam? It's fun, but it's not on the same level. Oklahoma fans would riot if they lost the Texas game for a yearly trip to Stillwater.
Toppmeyer's proposal prioritizes secondary rivalries over the one that defines OU's identity. It's like trading a steak dinner for a burger because you miss the old drive-thru.
Competitively, Oklahoma has already silenced the doubters. In just their second season in the SEC, the Sooners made the College Football Playoff (CFP), proving they belong among the elite. Under head coach Brent Venables, they've adapted to the conference's grueling physicality and depth. Sure, the transition had bumps—early losses highlighted defensive gaps—but reaching the playoff shows resilience and potential.
Why bail now?
The SEC is the nation's top conference, bar none, with more national titles in the last decade than any other. OU has what it takes to compete here, as evidenced by their playoff berth. A retreat to the Big 12 would be admitting defeat, swapping SEC iron-sharpening-iron matchups for lighter fare. That's not the mindset of a program with seven national championships.
Recruiting is another nail in the coffin for this idea. Since joining the SEC, Oklahoma's pipeline has exploded, particularly on defense. Top-tier talents from SEC footprints like Georgia, Florida, and Alabama are now considering Norman because of the conference affiliation.
The SEC brand screams "big-time football," attracting five-star defensive linemen and linebackers who might otherwise overlook a Big 12 school. A move back would slam that door shut. Recruits want to play in the league that produces NFL draft picks en masse and competes for titles every year.
The Big 12, with its recent additions like Arizona State and Utah, is solid but not the recruiting magnet the SEC is. OU's classes have climbed rankings since the switch; reversing course would plummet them, hurting the program's long-term health.
In today's college football world, if you're an elite program—and Oklahoma is undeniably a blueblood—you're either in the SEC or the Big Ten (with Notre Dame as the lone outlier). These two super-conferences are gobbling up power, dictating rules, and shaping the sport's future. The Big 12 is fighting for scraps, relying on expansion gimmicks to stay afloat. Leaving the SEC would be a massive step backward, diminishing OU's influence in key decisions like playoff formats and revenue distribution.
As a powerhouse, Oklahoma belongs in marquee games at venues like Tuscaloosa's Bryant-Denny Stadium, Baton Rouge's Death Valley, or Athens' Sanford Stadium—not trudging to Lawrence, Kansas; Orlando, Florida; or Ames, Iowa. Those Big 12 locales are fine for mid-tier programs, but OU's pedigree demands the spotlight.
Toppmeyer's heartland reunion sounds quaint, but it's a recipe for irrelevance.
The future of college football rests in the hands of the SEC and Big Ten. They're the ones with the leverage to control destiny amid ongoing realignment chaos. Oklahoma fought hard to join this club; abandoning it for a nostalgia trip with Missouri and Nebraska would squander that. Missouri, by the way, has flourished in the SEC, winning divisions and bowl games they never sniffed in the Big 12. Why would they want to go back?
Toppmeyer's vision ignores these realities, prioritizing feel-good rivalries over progress.
In conclusion, Blake Toppmeyer's proposal isn't just misguided—it's laughable.
Oklahoma is where it belongs: in the SEC, building a dynasty in the heart of football's power. Any suggestion otherwise is a disservice to the program's ambition, fans, and future.
Let's leave the Big 12 in the rearview mirror where it belongs.